The Lemon Index2003 Honda Pilot.
The 2003 Honda Pilot is about average by owner complaints: 148 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 114, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about airbags, it has 14 recalls, and it gets 17 mpg combined. The best Honda Pilot year is 2010.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 720 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Honda Pilot year. 2003 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 75K to 150K miles on the car (535 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 90K–147K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 90K–155K miles
- airbags complaints mostly came at 50K–177K miles
Recalls 14
- airbags 2019
The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high …
- airbags 2019
These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high a…
- airbags 2019
The affected vehicles received a replacement driver air bag inflator as part of a previous Takata inflator recall remedy or a replacement driver air bag module containi.
Show all 14 recalls
- airbags 2018
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
- airbags 2016
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- airbags 2015
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the passenger seat occupant or other occupants possibly causing serious injury…
- airbags 2015
The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator t…
- airbags 2014
Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, U.S.
- airbags 2014
American Honda Motor Company, Inc.'s (Honda) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2003-2005 Accord, Civic, CR-V, Pilot and Acura MDX, model year 2003-2004 Odyssey and Element, and model year 200…
- electrical 2012
The interlock lever of the ignition switch may deform, which can allow the interlock function of a vehicle with an automatic transmission to be defeated.
- lights 2012
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2004 CR-V; MODEL YEAR 2003 THROUGH 2005 PILOT; AND MODEL YEAR 2002 AND 2003 CIVIC VEHICLES.
- equipment 2008
HONDA IS RECALLING 2,032 HITCH STYLE BIKE RACKS SOLD AS AFTERMARKET FOR USE ON MY 2003-2007 AND SOME MY 2008 HONDA PILOT, RIDGELINE, AND ACURA MDX VEHICLES.
- transmission & drivetrain 2004
ON SOME MINI VANS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADIN…
- engine 2002
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, SEDANS, COUPES, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V6 ENGINES, A TIMING BELT TENSIONER PULLEY ON THE WATER PUMP IS MISALIGNED AND COULD CAUSE THE TIMING BELT TO CONTACT A BOLT ON THE CYLINDER H…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Honda told dealers about
Honda sent dealers 307 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Install the shift lock release slot cover correctly
- Rear differential noise
- Wind noise at the hood air deflector seal
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
- OpenAir bag inflator rupture2015
- ClosedAir bag inflator rupture2014–2015
- ClosedIgnition interlock failure - rollaway2012–2013
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $3800 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
While driving at 35 mph hit a pole, and neither of the four air bags deployed. Vehicle was totaled. Dealer notified.
2003 Honda Pilot owner · NHTSA complaint 10029654
More owner reports
04 v 176 000/automatic transmission: the consumer was unable to get this recall honored by dealer because no parts were available. Consumer has been waiting since september 4, 2004 and the parts were still unavailable.
NHTSA complaint 10099141
When using a lap top computer in the vehicle the srs light came on indicating that the air bags had been deactivated. The electronic waves hit the back of the seat causing this defect.
NHTSA complaint 10074252
Quick answers
Is the 2003 Honda Pilot reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew 1.1× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 114; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Honda Pilot year by this measure is 2010.
What are the most common 2003 Honda Pilot problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are airbags (17%), transmission & drivetrain (11%) and body structure (9%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2003 Honda Pilot have?
14 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2003 Honda Pilot get?
17 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2003 Honda Pilot problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 75,000 and 150,000 miles. The middle report was at 117,000 miles, from 535 complaints.
Does the 2003 Honda Pilot have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 11% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2003 Honda Pilot cost in fuel a year?
About $3800 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2003 Honda Pilot have?
3.5L 6-cyl.
What Honda Pilot year is better than the 2003?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2010, 2015 and 2014.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works